Mixing machine



3,74 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 2, 1941.

R. COPELAND MIXING MACHINE Filed Feb. 16, 1940 3 R. E 3 Q INVENTOR. 75/01 (or/54mm.

Dec. 2, 1941. R. COPELAND 2,264,743

MIXING MACHINE Filed Feb. 16, 1940 4 SheetS- Sheet 2 .FILj EJ- A O EYJ.

MIXING MACHINE Filed Feb. 16, l 940 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 7 I A l .21 I 1- [5 E 1 Dec. 2, 1941. R. COPELAND 2,264,743

MIXING MACHINE Filed Feb. 16, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. P00) (b a/7N0.

Patented Dec. 2, 1941 MIXING MACHINE Rudy Copeland, Fort Worth, Tex., assignor to Bottlers Equipment Company, Fort Worth,

Tex., a corporation Application February 16, 1940, Serial No. 319,212

10- Claims. 259-54) This invention relates to a mixing machine for soft drinks and the like particularly adapted to the mixing of bottled goods after the bottles have been placed in the usual handling cases. In machines of this type, an entire case, usually containing 24 bottles, is mixed in a single operation by placing the case in a rotatably mounted container and then rotating the same. Certain features of the apparatus herein disclosed are shown and claimed in co-pending applications of Curtis W. Gibbs, Serial No. 219,758, filed July 18, 1938, now Patent No. 2,190,421, issued February 13, 1940, and Walter H. Hamilton, Serial No. 319,211, filed February 16, 1940.

One object of the invention is to simplify and improve control mechanism for initiating and stopping the rotation of the cases.

Another object of the invention is to simplify and improve the operation of automatic latching means for retaining the cases in the container and for operating said latching means to release the cases therefrom.

Other objects and features of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following description and claims:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a mixing machine embodying the invention with parts cut away to show other partsin detail. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the principal parts of the machine drawn to a larger scale. Fig. 3 is a central sectional view taken substantially on the line 33 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a plan view partly in section taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3. Figs. 5 and 6 are fragmentary views in elevation of portions of the control mechanism. Fig. 7 is an elevational view of the same mechanism viewed at right angles to the directions of Figs. 5 and 6. Fig. 8 is an elevational view of a portion of the mechanism used for controlling the entrance of the cases to the rotating container. Fig. 9 is a side view of the rotating container and Fig. 10 is a fragmentary end view of the same.

In the preferred form of the invention illustrated in the drawings the stationary frame of the machine consists of vertical corner posts 10, longitudinal side member's H and i2, vertical side members l3 and horizontal end members M, l5, l6 and I1. Each of the frame members just mentioned is preferably channel-shaped in cross section and all are secured together to form a rigid structure, preferably by welding. At one end of the machine there is provided a receiving conveyor l8 of the usual roller type used for conveying cases of bottled goods. Cases may be received on said conveyor from a casing machine or casing table by any suitable transportation means or may be placed on the conveyor 18 by hand. At the opposite end of the machine there is provided a delivery conveyor 19 of the same general type. The cases after mixing are delivered to said conveyor and may be held thereon by a stop 20 and manually removed. If desired, the conveyor 19 may be connected to a suitable conveyor for transporting the cases to any desired points.

Referring now to Fig. 3 in which the conveyors l8 and [9 are omitted, there are provided a pair of longitudinal channel members 2! supported at one end on the frame member I4 and supported at the other end by short channel members 22 secured to the frame members H. The channel members 21 have rotatably mounted thereon a series of rollers 23. A pair of shorter rollers 24 are supported at their outer ends on the channel members 2! and at their inner ends on vertical bars 25 carried by the channel members 22. Said rollers terminate short of the center of the machine as shown in Fig. 2, leaving a space between the same for a purpose to be described. On the upper flange of each of the channel members 2| there is mounted a pair of spaced bars 26 which provide bearings for a plurality of guide rollers 27 mounted on vertical 1 axes and positioned to engage and guide the sides of a case of bottled goods travelling on the rollers 23 and 2E. The construction just described forms a continuation of the receiving conveyor l8 and is adapted to receive cases from said conveyor. As will be seen from Fig. 3, the rollers 23 and 24 are arranged on a line sloping downwardly to the left so that the cases tend to travel by gravity from right to left in said figure.

At the opposite end of the machine a pair of channel members 28 are supported on the cross member l5 and have journaled thereon rollers 29 forming a similar conveyor adapted to conduct the cases to the delivery conveyor 10.

A container 30 adapted to receive a case of bottles from the rollers 23 and 24 is rotatably mounted by means of trunnions 3i journaled in bearings 32 mounted on brackets 33 secured to the inner sides of the frame members H. Said container is in the form of a substantially rectangular open ended box having a floor plate 34, side plates 35 and a top plate 35 adj'ustably secured to the side plates by adjusting screws 37. By means of said screws the top plate 36 may be raised or lowered to a proper position to clear the tops of the bottles in the cases and to hold said bottles in the cases during rotation. Rollers 38 are journaled within the container 38 and permit the cases to roll freely into and out of the open ends of the container. Vertically mounted rollers 39 on the side plates 35 engage the sides of the cases for guiding the same.

For retaining the cases in the container 30 during rotation thereof, there is provided latching mechanism shown particularly in Figs. 9 and 10. In said figures the mechanism associated with one side of the container 38 is shown and it is to be understood that a similar construction is provided for the opposite side of the container. The mechanism shown in said figures includes a latch member 48 at the receiving end of the case and a latch member 4! at the outgoing end thereof. The latch member 40 is mounted on an arm 42 secured to a shaft 43 journaled on the side plate 35 of the container and running longitudinally the whole length of the container. The shaft 43 carries at its far end a collar 44 secured thereto by means of a pin 45 extending completely through said collar and projecting therefrom as seen in Fig. 9. At the opposite end the shaft 43 has a collar 48 secured thereto and said collar carries a pin 87 adapted to engage a stop pin 48 secured to the side wall of the container. A similar collar 39 adjacent the opposite end prevents longitudinal movement of the shaft 43. Torsion springs 59 surrounding said shaft and secured thereto at one end have their opposite ends engaging the wall 35 and normally urge the shaft 43 in a counterclockwise direction, referring to Fig. 10. In the normal position of the parts the springs 50 hold the pin 41 against the stop 48 and in this position the latch member 48 assumes the position shown in broken lines in Fig. 10. In this position it is adapted to engage the end of a case in the container and to prevent escape of said case therefrom. An upward force exerted on the pin 45 by means to be hereinafter described moves the stop member 40 to the solid line position of Fig. 10 and thus permits entrance of a case to the container 30.

The stop member M at the outgoing end of the case is mounted on an arm which is secured to a collar 52 freely rotatable on the shaft &3. Said collar is provided with an outwardly extending pin 53 and has secured thereto one end of a torsion spring 56, the opposite end of which is secured to a pin 55 mounted on the container proper. The spring 5 3 surrounds a portion of the shaft 43 and normally urges the stop member M upwardly to a position in which the arm 55 engages a stop 56 mounted on the side plate 35. In this position the latch member il prevents escape of a case from the container 38. An upward pressure on the pin 53 however moves the latch member against the action of spring 54 to a position permitting escape of the case.

Power for rotating the container 38 is supplied by an electric motor 60 mounted on channel irons 6! on a deck plate 62 carried by channel irons 83 secured to the frame members 2. The motor 60 is connected by a flexible coupling 64 to a reduction gear unit 55 and through said reduction gear unit drives a shaft 66. Said shaft is journaled in said reduction gear unit and in a bearing 61 mounted on the deck plate 62. The shaft 88 has freely mounted thereon a sprocket 58 which is connected to a freely moving portion of a clutch G9. Said clutch is of a common commercial form operated by toggle levers in turn operated by a cone type clutch sleeve H free- 1y mounted in shaft 66. When the sleeve ll is moved to engage the toggle levers 10 the clutch is operated to connect the sprocket 68 to rotate with the shaft 65. When said clutch sleeve is withdrawn to the position shown in Fig. 4 the shaft 66 may rotate without turning the sprocket 68.

A sprocket chain 12 is trained about the sprocket 68 and about a sprocket 13 mounted on a cross shaft 14 journaled in suitable bearings on the frame members i2. Said shaft carries a brake drum [5 engaged by brake mechanism 16 of a common commercial form actuated by a lever 17. The shaft M also carries a pair of sprockets 78 each of which has trained thereabout a sprocket chain 19 (Fig. 1). The chains 19 connect said sprockets to sprockets 80 carried by the trunnions 3! of the container 38. By means of the construction just described the motor 68 may be operated continuously and the rotation of the container 30 may be initiated by sliding the sleeve II to engage the toggle levers 10. To stop the rotation of the container the sleeve H is retracted and the brake may be applied by operation of the lever Tl.

For controlling the operation of the clutch sleeve H, the brake lever 11 and certain movements of the incoming and outgoing cases, two attachments 8| are provided on the sprocket chain 19 (Fig. 1). In the rotation of the container 38, said attachments alternately strike the brake lever I1 and a lever 82 pivotally mounted at 83 on the inner face of the frame member H. The lever 83 has connected to the outer end thereof a link 94 extending downwardly and connected to a link 85 secured to a rock shaft 86. The rock shaft 86 has secured thereto a lever 81 (Figs. 3 and 7) carrying at one end a counterweight 88 and having pivotally secured to its opposite end a link 89. The link 89 is pivotally connected to a lever 90 secured to a rock shaft 9| journaled in bearings 92 on the deck plate 62 '(Fig. 4). The rock shaft 9| carries downwardly projecting fingers 93 having a pin-and-slot connection 94 with the clutch sleeve 7 I.

In the normal position of parts during rotation of the container 30 the counterweight 88 operates through the mechanism just described to hold the clutch sleeve H in engagement with the toggle levers 18. At the end of a suitable period of rotation, one of the attachments 8| engages the lever 82 and presses the same downwardly, thus raising the counterweight and withdrawing the clutch sleeve H. Substantially at the same time the second of the attachments 8| strikes the brake lever 1'! and applies the brake. The adjustment of the brake is such that it does not actually stop the rotation of the container 30 before the attachments 8| have cleared the lever 82 and the brake lever respectively. It does, however, slow the rotation sufiiciently so that it may be stopped without jar by means now to be described.

The final stopping of the rotation of the container 30 and the latching of the clutch sleeve H in its disengaged position is accomplished by mechanism best seen in Fig. '7. The shaft 86 has secured thereto a pair of upwardly extending latch arms 98 formed with their upper ends outwardly inclined and having inwardly and downwardly sloping cam faces 99 terminating in latching shoulders I00. The arms 98 are connected together as a rigid frame by means of a cross member I01. A shaft I02 is supported on said arms and carries a roller I03 preferably faced with rubber or other suitably resilient material. A latch bar I04 (Fig, is pivotally connected to one of the arms 98 and is provided with a latching shoulder I05 adapted to engage a latch block I06 mounted on the frame member I5.

In the normal position of the parts during rotation of the container 30, the latch shoulder I05 rests on the top of the block I06 and the counterweight 88 holds the arms 98 against stop members I01 mounted on the channel irons 28. When the attachment 8I engages the lever 82, the arms 98 are drawn to the upright position shown in Fig. 5 and are latched in this position by the engagement of the latching shoulder I05 with the block I06. In this position of the parts, the bottom of the container engages the roller I03 just after the attachments 8| clear the lever 82 and the brake lever 71, and the container 30 is thus brought to a stop. At the same time the pins and 53 which operate the container latches 40 and 4| engage the cam faces 99 and are latched beneath the latching shoulders I00. By this engagement reverse rotation of the container 30 is prevented and the latch members 40 and 4| are moved to permit escape of the case from the container and entrance of a new case thereto. The container 30 when stopped is properly inclined to permit the case contained therein to roll by gravity out of said case and onto the rollers 29. The latch bar I04 retains the parts in this position and retains the clutch sleeve II in its disengaged position.

For controlling the movement of incoming cases, there are provided a pair of stop members III and H2 which are slidably guided for vertical movement by suitable openings in a plate II3 extending between the channel member 21. Said stop members are pivotally connected at their lower ends to opposite ends of a lever H4 (Fig. 8) which is secured to a rock shaft H5 journaled in bearings on a cross member II 6 secured to the frame members II. At the opposite end said rock shaft has secured thereto an arm III to which there is pivotally connected the upper end of a link I I8, the lower end of which is pivotally attached to an arm I I9 carried by the rock shaft 9|.

In the normal position of the rock shaft 9| during rotation of the container 30, the parts are held by the counterweight 88 in the position shown in Fig, 8 with the stop member -I II projecting above the level of the bottom of the cases indicated by the broken line II'E. In this position the stop member II I prevents travel of a case toward the container 30. shaft 9| is moved by the engagement of attachment 8| with lever 82 near the end of the rotational period, the position of the stop members III and H2 is reversed, member III being withdrawn a considerable distance below the level of the case and member I I2 being raised above said level to hold the oncoming cases for a further period of time. From Fig. 2 it will be seen that member H2 is farther advanced in the direction of movement of the cases than is member I I I. This insures that member I I2 does not strike the bottom of a case when it is raised and permits the case to move to a position covering member III.

When the container 30 has been stopped and the case just mixed has been discharged therefrom, said case strikes a trigger I20 (Figs. 2 and 3) which is secured to a rock shaft I2I journaled on the channel irons 28 and which is normally held in an upright position in the path of the When the rock r one of the frame members I0.

case by a counterweight I22 carried by an arm I23 secured to said rock shaft. The rock shaft is provided at one end with a crank I2 3 located beneath the latch bar I04. Movement of the trigger I20 by the case operates the crank I24 to raise the latch bar I04 and free the same from the block I06. The counterweight 88 is then free to move the associated parts through a limited distance to an intermediate position determined by the engagement of stop member I II with the bottom of the case then being held on the rollers 23 by stop member I I 2.

In this intermediate position, the clutch sleeve 'II is not yet engaged with toggle levers 70, the arms 98 are moved only to the position indicated by broken line I25 in Fig. 5, and the stop member I I2 is withdrawn beneath the level of the case to permit movement thereof. In the intermediate position of the arms 98, the pins 53 are cleared to permit the latch members M to return to normal position but the pins 45 are still engaged to retain the latch members 48 out of the path of the incoming case. The proportion of the parts is such that the stop member III in holding the parts in the intermediate position exerts very little pressure on the bottom of the case which moves freely into the container 30 and is stopped by the latch members N. If necessary to minimize friction on the bottom of the case, a roller may be mounted on the upper end of stop member III but ordinarily such construction is not necessary.

To retain the parts in the intermediate position after the incoming case has cleared the stop member III and until it has reached its position in the container 30 there is provided mechanism now to be described. Referring to Fig. 6, a latch bar I26 is pivotally attached to the second of the arms 88 and is provided with a latching shoulder I21 adapted to engage a latch block E28 mounted on the frame member I5. Said latch bar is normally held in an upraised position out of engagement with the block I28 by a finger I28 forming a part of a lever I30 pivotally mounted at I3I on The outer end of the lever I30 is connected to the upper end of the plunger I32 of a solenoid I33. When said solenoid is energized the plunger I32 is lifted and rocks the finger I28 sufficiently to permit the latch bar I28 to be lowered into engagement with the block I28. The shoulder I2! is properly positioned to hold the parts in the intermediate position when said shoulder engages the edge of the block I28. When the solenoid I33 is deenergized, the weight of the plunger I 32 is sufficient to restore the finger I28 and latch bar I25 to the position shown in Fig. 6.

Referring now to'Fig, 3, a roller I 38 is mounted on the upper end of a lever I 35 secured to a rock shaft I36 journaled in suitable bearings carried by the cross channel H6. The rock shaft I36 carries an arm I31 adapted to engage an electric switch I38 and normally held in engagement therewith by a counterweight. I38. The engagement of the arm I3? with said switch holds the same in an open circuit position.

In the operation of this portion of the apparatus, the incoming case, released by stop member I I2, strikes the roller I 34 before clearing the stop member III. Said roller is pressed forwardly and downwardly into the space between the rollers 26 and in this movement witi draws the arm I31 from the switch I38. The consequent operation of said switch completes an electric circuitfor operation of the solenoid I33. The resulting action of the solenoid places the latch bar I26 in position to engage the block I28 when the case has cleared the stop member III. The intermediate position of the parts is thus maintained until the case has cleared the roller I34 as said case enters the container 30. When the roller I34 is released, the arm I31 again strikes the switch I38, opens the circuit for the solenoid I33 and permits the latch bar I26 to be raised. The counterweight 88 is now free to return the associated parts to the normal operating position in which the clutch sleeve 'II engages toggle levers "I to start the rotation of the'container 30, the arms 98 clear the pins and the roller I03 clears the container 30. The clearance of the pins 45 permits the latch members 40 to return to normal position to hold the case in the container 30.

A succession of cases is ordinarily received on the rollers 23 in abutting relation. In order to insure suiiicient space between cases to permit the stop member III to rise to its normal position after a case has been passed into the container 30, there are provided a plurality of auxiliary stop members I41, herein shown as three in number and best seen in Figs. 2 and 3. Said members are slidably guided in a plate I48 extending between the channel members 2| and are supported at their lower ends by pivotal connection with arms I49 secured to a rock shaft I5 1. The

upper ends of said stop members are pointed, as best seen in Fig. 3, and are adapted to engage the undersurface of a case and to prevent movement thereof on the rollers 23. The rock shaft I50 has secured thereto a downwardly extending I34, pressed the same downwardly and to the left in Fig. 3 and so moved the stop members I41 to release the succeeding case. Thus, a space sufficient to receive stop member III is provided between cases, even though said cases may have been placed in abutting relation on the rollers In briefly reviewing the operation of the machine, the cycle of operations may be considered to begin with one case in the container 30, a second case held on the rollers 23 by stop member III and a third case in abutting relation thereto partially on the rollers 23 and partially on the conveyor I8. The clutch sleeve II is engaged and rotation of the container 30 is in progress. At the end of a predetermined period of rotation, one of the attachments 8I strikes the lever 82 and moves the parts to disengage the clutch sleeve, to place the roller I03 in the path of the container, to place the arms 98 in the path of the latch pins 05 and 53 and to reverse the positions of stop members III and IIZ. The parts are held in this position by the latch bar I04. At the same time, the second of the attachments 8i operates the brake lever 11 to slow the rotation sufiiciently to be stopped without undue shock by the roller I03 after the attachments 8 I' have cleared the levers 82 and 17.

As the rotation of the container 30 is stopped, the latch pins 05 and 53 are operated to withdraw the latch members 40 and M from the path of movement of the cases. The case just mixed is discharged onto the rollers 29 and strikes the trigger I20. The operation of the trigger I20 clears the latch bar I04 and permits the parts to assume an intermediate position limited by engagement of stop member I II with the underside of the case now. held by stop member II2. In this intermediate position, latch pins 53 are released to return the latch member II to proper position to stop an incoming case. Stop member I I2 is withdrawn to permit the next case to enter the container 30 and the clutch sleeve II is still retained out of engagement. The incoming case engages the roller I34 and operates the solenoid I33 to retain the parts in the intermediate position until the case has cleared said roller and entered the container 30. During the initial portion of this movement, the third case is held by the auxiliary stop members I4! to provide a clearance space between the cases. Engagement of the incoming case with the roller I 34 releases the auxiliary stop members I I: and the clearing of said roller by the incoming case releases the solenoid 133, trips the latch bar I26 and permits the parts to return to their initial position with the stop member III upraised to stop the case just released from the auxiliary stop members IN. The parts have now returned to operating position and the cycle of operations is repeated as long as cases are supplied on conveyor I8.

When the supply of cases has been exhausted the last case to be mixed operates the trigger I20 but since there is no succeeding case covering the stop member I I I the parts move through the intermediate position without stopping and a period of rotation of the container 30 immediately follows, said container however being empty. At the end of said operation the rotation is stopped as before but since there is no case discharged from the container the trigger I20 is not operated and the parts remain with the clutch disengaged, the latching members 40 and II open and stop member II 2 upraised. When a new supply of cases has been received the leading case is placed in engagement with stop member II2 and the operations may be resumed by a manual operation of trigger I20.

The foregoing specification describes the invention in one of its preferred forms, the details of which may be varied without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:

1. In apparatus of the class described, an open ended container adapted to receive a case of bottled goods at one end and to discharge the same at the other end, said container being rotatable for mixing the contents of said case, latching means at each end of the container adapted to hold said case therein during rotation, a latch operating member mounted for movement relative to the axis of rotation of said cont iner, means for moving said latch operating member at the end of a period of rotation to engage and operate the latching means at the discharge end of the container to permit discharge of said case therefrom, and other means actuated by movement of the outgoing case and adapted to move said latch operating member to a position in which the latching means at the receiving end of the case is engaged thereby and held in position to permit entrance of a case thereto and the latching means at the discharge end of the case is freed to return to case holding position.

2. In apparatus of the class described, an open ended container adapted to receive a case of bottled goods at one end and to discharge the same at the other end, said container being rotatable for mixing the contents of said case, latching means at each end of the container adapted to hold said case therein during rotation, a latch operating member mounted for movement relative to the axis of rotation of said container, means for moving said latch operating member at the end of a predetermined period of rotation into position to operate said latching means at both ends of the case and move the same to positions permitting discharge of a case therefrom and entrance of a case thereto, and

other means actuated by the outgoing case andadapted to move said latch operating member to a second position in which the latching means at the discharge end of the case is released to return to case holding position and the latching means at the receiving end is held in position to permit entrance of a case.

3. In apparatus of the class described, an open ended container adapted to receive a case of bottled goods at one end and to discharge the same at the other end, said container being rotatable for mixing the contents of said case, latching means at each end of the container adapted to hold said case therein during rotation, a latch operating member mounted for movement relative to the axis of rotation of said container, means for moving said latch operating member at the end of a period of rotation to engage and operate the latchin means at the discharge end of the container to permit discharge of said case therefrom, other means actuated by movement of the outgoing case and adapted to move said latch operating member to a position in which the latching means at the receiving end of the case is engaged thereby and held in position to permit entrance of a case thereto and the latching means at the discharge end of the case is freed to return to case holdin position, and other means actuated by an incoming case and adapted to move said latch operating member to a position in which both of said latching means are free to return to case holding position.

4. In apparatus of the class described, an open ended container adapted to receive a case of bottled goods at one end and to discharge the same at the other end, said container being rotatable for mixing the contents of said case, latching means at each end of the container adapted to hold said case therein during rotation, a latch operating member mounted for movement relative to the axis of rotation of said container, means for moving said latch operating member at the end of a predetermined period of rotation into position to operate said latching means at both ends of the case and move the same to positions permitting discharge of a case therefrom and entrance of a case thereto, other means actuated by the outgoing case and adapted to move said latch operating member to a second position in which the latching means at the discharge end of the case is released to return to case holding position and the latching means at the receiving end is held in position to permit entrance of a case, and other means actuated by an incoming case and adapted to move said latch operating member to a third position in which the latching means at both ends of said case are freed to return to case holding position.

5. In apparatus of the class described, an open ended container adapted to receive a case of bottled goods at one end and to discharge the same at the other end, said container being rotatable for mixing the contents of said case, latching means at each end of the container adapted to hold said case therein during rotation, power means for rotating said container, control mechanism adapted to control said latchingmeans and said power means, said control mechanism having a first position in which said power means is connected to said container for rotating the same and said latching means remains in position to hold a case in said container, a second position in which said power means is disconnected to stop said rotation and the latching means at the discharge end of the case is operended container adapted to receive a case of bottled goods at one end and to discharge the same at the other end, said container being rotatable for mixing the contents of said case, latching means at each end of the container adapted to hold said case therein during rotation, power means for rotating said container,

control mechanism adapted to control said latching means and said power means, said control mechanism having a first position in which said power means is connected to said container for rotating the same and said latching means remains in position to hold a case in said container, a second position in which said power means is disconnected to stop said rotation and the latching means at the discharge end of the case is operated to permit discharge of a case, and a third position in which said power means is disconnected, said latching means at the discharge end of the case is returned to case holding position and the latching means at the receiving end of the case is operated to permit entrance of a case thereto, means automatically moving said control mechanism from said first to said secend position at the end of a predetermined period of rotation of said container, and means actuated by a case discharged from said container to move said control mechanism from said second to said third position.

7. In apparatus of the class described, an open ended container adapted to receive a case of bottled goods at one end and to discharge the same at the other end, said container being rotatable for mixing the contents of said case, latching means at each end of the container adapted to hold said case therein during rotation, power means for rotating said container, control mechanism adapted to control said latching means and said power means, said control mechanism having a first position in which said power means is connected to said container for rotating the same and said latching means remains in position to hold a casein said container, a second position in which said power means is disconnected to stop said rotation and the latching means at the discharge end of the case is operated to permit discharge of a case, and a third position in which said power means is disconnected, said latching means at the discharge end of the case is returned to case holding position and the latching means at the receiving end of the case is operated to permit entrance of a case thereto, means automatically moving said control mechanism from said first to said second position at the end of a predetermined period of rotation of said container, means actuated by a case discharged from said container to move said control mechanism from said second to said third position, and means actuated by an incoming case to move said control mechanism from said third to said first position.

8. In apparatus of the class described, an open ended container adapted to receive a case of bottled goods at one end and to discharge the same at the other end, said container being rotatable for mixing the contents of said case, latching means at each end of the container adapted to hold said case therein during rotation, power means for rotating said container, control mechanism adapted to control said latching means and said power means, said control mechanism having a first position in which said power means is connected to said container for rotating the same and said latching means remains in position to hold a case in said container, a second position in which said power means is disconnected to stop said rotation and the latching means at the discharge end of the case is operated to permit discharge of a case, and a third position in which said power means is disconnected, said latching means at the discharge end of the case is returned to case holding position and the latching means at the receiving end of the case is operated to permit entrance of a case thereto, means automatically moving said control mechanism from said first position to said second and third positions in sequence, a conveyor adapted to deliver incoming cases to said container, and case stopping means associated therewith and controlled by operation of said control mechanism to prevent movement of cases toward said container except when said control mechanism is in said third position.

9. In apparatus of the class described, a rotatable container adapted to receive a case of bottled goods for mixing, power means for rotating the same, a conveyor adapted to deliver such cases thereto, case stopping means associated with said conveyor and adapted to prevent movement of cases toward said container, and control mechanism operating to stop rotation of said container and release a case therefrom and then to operate said case stopping means to permit movement of a new case to said container.

10. In apparatus of the class described, a rotatable container adapted to receive a case of bottled goods for mixing, power means for rotating the same, a conveyor adapted to receive a succession of cases in abutting relation and to deliver the same to said container, case stopping means normally engaging the leading case to prevent movement thereof to said container, a second case stopping means engageable with the undersurface of the second case in said sequence for preventing movement thereof, and control mechanism operating said stopping means in timed relation to release said leading case while momentarily holding said second case until a space is opened between said cases and then to release said second case, said first mentioned stopping means being returned to stopping position after passage of said first case and before arrival of said second.

RUDY COPELAND. 

